New Survey Available Soon to Armstrong Students
All Armstrong School District board directors at last night’s regular meeting approved to allow students to participate in the Pennsylvania Youth Survey this fall.
by Jonathan Weaver
During the next few months, Armstrong School District students may participate in an online survey regarding alcohol, tobacco and violence.
The ‘Pennsylvania Youth Survey,’ or PAYS, is sponsored and conducted every two years by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
According to the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency, students have been surveyed to learn about their behavior, attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence since 1989.
According to Superintendent Chris DeVivo, the survey would be available to all 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students in the district.
The survey will be administered to students through November, with a return deadline of December 20.
Acting Assistant Superintendent Dr. James Gaggini said the school district’s participation in the study – the largest public school district in the county – will benefit local non-profit agencies.
“Our participation in the survey benefits all the child-serving agencies in the County because they can then use that data when they’re pursuing grant opportunities,” Gaggini said.
Community risk factors are also identified with the survey results.
In 2013, more than 216,000 students across 342 school districts and 81 “other” schools took part in the survey. County reports are available for 54 counties (every one that had a minimum of two participating districts). District reports are provided directly to school district superintendents or points of contact.
Locally, more than 380 students responded – mostly 8th graders.
Freeport Area School District has already agreed to also distribute the voluntary survey.
Reports are to be released to schools and counties by April 2016.
A total of nine ARIN IU 28 school districts from Armstrong and Indiana Counties participated in the survey in 2013.
Armstrong School District students also participated in the 2013 survey, as well as did Freeport and Leechburg students.
“It’s a random survey, completely voluntary – if there’s a question the student doesn’t feel comfortable answering, they don’t need to answer it; they just leave it blank,” Gaggini said.
School directors unanimously, 8-0, approved to implement the voluntary testing again this school year. School Director James Rearic was absent from the regular meeting.
The survey and a parental consent form will be available via the school district website.
Armstrong School District | jweaver September 15, 2015
By lowfatlowcarbnosugarcheesecake, September 15, 2015 @ 9:13 AM
Of course Rearic missed this meeting- it would have looked hypocritical if he voted yes on this survey when he’s been convicted of a DUI.
Too many absences from too many board members if you want my opinion- not that it would matter anyway they all say YES to pretty much everything.